Craigslist Meets Attorneys General Over Ad Flap

Law-enforcement officers have long criticized Craigslist for not doing enough to prevent illegal activity among its users. The popular classified-ad Web site went on the defensive again last month after a 22-year-old medical student was charged with murdering a woman who advertised massage services on Craigslist.

The 14-year-old company says it wants to work with public officials to improve the site. It took a step on Tuesday by meeting with the attorneys general of Connecticut, Illinois and Missouri. Some have called on Craigslist to shut down its “erotic services” section, which they say facilitates prostitution.

In a blog post, Craigslist CEO Jim Buckmaster called the meetings, which were held in New York City, “cordial and productive.”

“Craigslist has continued to develop further improvements, some of which have been introduced in the last two weeks,” Buckmaster wrote, stating that his company shares the AGs’ interest in minimizing misuse of Craigslist. “We’re optimistic this goal can be reached while preserving all beneficial aspects of a site enjoyed by tens of millions of Americans, and without compromising the quintessentially American values of free speech embodied in our constitution.”

Also on Tuesday, South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster, who did not attend the New York meeting, sent Buckmaster a letter, warning that South Carolina may prosecute Craigslist if it does not take steps to remove “functions allowing for the solicitation of prostitution and the dissemination and posting of graphic pornographic material.”